Page 55 of A Scot's Pride
“Take advantage of her?” Freya said aloud what they were both thinking. The idea had her thinking of her own situation. She sliced into the Camembert and placed a small piece onto a baguette slice. “Are all men only looking to take advantage?”
Lady Daven frowned. “Oh, not all men, dear. There are some very good ones. My nephew, for example.”
Thank goodness Freya had already swallowed her bite because if not, she would have choked on it at the mention of the very man who’d used her and discarded her the night before.
So, instead, she remained quiet, contemplative, and avoided eye contact, taking a keen interest in her cider.
“We can pray, however, that your sister was raised with the same morals as you and Riley.”
Freya bit the tip of her tongue. Of course, Riley was a perfect example of moral rightness, but Freya? She almost laughed aloud, but her throat felt tight at the mention of her morals. For it had not been without her own consent that Bryson had touched her, kissed her. One could make a claim that it was entirely her doing. If she were honest, it would have been the two of them succumbing.
Lady Daven plucked a piece of her baguette and popped it into her mouth. “There is nothing so simple and exquisite as French bread, is there?”
Freya recovered enough to say, “I do love it.”
“Is there something on your mind, dear? You looked far away now.”
Freya smiled at the older woman and shook her head. There was no way she could confess what she’d been thinking. “Just worried about Leila.”
“Understandable. Whatever happens in the end, whether she’s married or unscathed, she will be alive. There is always that silver lining. No Blackbeards absconding with her to feed her to the Kraken at the bottom of the sea.” Lady Daven laughed slightly.
“Can’t say the same for Campbell, however,” Freya said with a laugh. “For I wish he were forced into walking the plank.”
“Quite right. That lout has it coming to him. When we locate them, we will have him arrested by the local authorities. He’ll pay for his transgression. Leila is a minor, and so he truly did abduct her. Of course, you may need to keep your hand clamped over her mouth, for I feel she will argue the accusation. No offense, dear.”
Freya laughed. “None taken. I fear you’re quite right.” Freya turned serious as she regarded Lady Daven. She seemed quite knowledgeable in this area. “I’ve heard he’s taken advantage of young girls before.” Freya packed the rest of her baguette back into the basket, feeling suddenly full again.
A dark look came over the older lady’s face as she put away her food. “Indeed.”
Lady Daven seemed closed off, not her normal chatty self, and Freya wondered if she’d known who Campbell had gotten into trouble with before. Then she stilled, her mind returning to Bryson’s hatred toward the man. Lady Daven’s knowledge of what to do in these circumstances.
Was it possible that Bryson and Lady Daven had been personally involved with Campbell before? Like, say, with a sister? Bryson did seem overprotective of Lucy, which was only natural, as he was her guardian and older brother, and the two of them had already lost one sister. But combined with his disdain for Campbell and his warnings to Freya to keep Leila away, it only made sense that perhaps the man had taken advantage of Lucy.
Only one way to find out. Before losing her nerve, Freya pinned her gaze on her companion and continued with it. “Lady Daven, I wonder if you might be willing to answer a personal question?” Freya hurried to explain herself. “I know it is highly improper for me to ask, but given as we’re on this highly improper adventure, I thought you might be willing to make an exception.”
“We’re friends, aren’t we, dear? Besides, if I don’t want to answer, then I won’t.” Lady shrugged. “Please feel free to ask.”
Freya gave a short nod and blew out a breath. “I was wondering if, perchance, your family has had to deal with Campbell before? Perhaps with Lucy?”
Lady Daven pressed her lips together. For a moment, she looked put-out as if Freya had indeed crossed the line with her questions. But then, she nodded once. “We have. He’s a cad and a womanizer.”
“I quite agree.”
“It’s why our family has been so willing to help. Because we know firsthand what can happen and don’t want to see it happen again.”
“Is Lucy…all right?”
“She is, no thanks to him, of course. He’d nearly gotten away with the elopement, but my nephew found out before any deeds could be done. We hid Lucy from prying eyes and ears to keep the rumors at bay, though that hasn’t helped poor Bryson.”
Freya tried to keep her face free of emotion, but she was afraid her grimace would show, so she looked down at her hands, picking at a hangnail. Poor Bryson, indeed.
Lady Daven continued; now that the dam had broken, it seemed all bets were off. “Campbell was jailed briefly, and when he was released, he systematically destroyed Bryson’s reputation in the Highlands. Truly, if we could go back to medieval times and cut off his tongue—perhaps another part of him—I would bear witness to that without looking away.”
Freya was surprised to hear that, and a piece of her heart did feel bad for Bryson. He didn’t deserve that. And really, he didn’t deserve her censure for what happened in the garden. She’d enjoyed it, had wanted it. Initiated it, even. But his promise to come ask her father for her hand to wed when he’d planned to wed someone else altogether—now that, she could blame him for. And she could be angry with him and not forgive him.
They inquired in each village and each tavern they passed if anyone had spotted two young people headed to Gretna Green. But it appeared they were either one step behind Leila and Campbell or no one had seen them.
When it came time to rest the horses for the night, Lady Daven paid for two rooms at an inn. They dined on stew and then retreated to their rooms. Freya had brought a novel with her, but she couldn’t sit still or concentrate long enough to read a single page. Instead, she found herself staring out windows again, imagining figures cloaked in black with handsome faces that resembled Bryson.
